Letter to Editor

Indonesia's rogue military 

In the April 30 Commentary column, "Indonesia challenge," Theophilos C. Gemela advocates the resumption of close military ties with the Indonesian military. Opposition to such a risky step, which can be found on both sides of the aisle in Congress, draws largely on the correct assessment that the Indonesian military has failed to undertake essential reforms. 

It remains a rogue military, regularly abusing human rights, operating illegal logging enterprises and other such ventures, and refusing to be held accountable for its conduct. Mr. Gemela's contention that the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program and other U.S. training might encourage reform ignores the fact that the Indonesian military enjoyed access to IMET for decades before it was cut off in 1992 — with no measurable positive effect.

There is a further argument against resumption of close military ties with the Indonesian military. Mr. Gemela argues that "[t]he United States will not find a more eager and willing ally in the war against terror than the Indonesian military." This claim ignores that a number of senior Indonesian military officers have close ties to Islamic militants in 
Indonesia. The Indonesian military helped with the brutal Laskar Jihad's entry into the Maluku Islands, where these Islamic militants significantly worsened the ongoing Muslim-Christian conflict. Recently, the Indonesian military has turned a blind eye to Laskar Jihad's entry into tense West Papua, where the fundamentalist group is offering military training to local, 
pro-Jakarta Muslim militants. 

If the U.S. military cooperates with an Indonesian military that has a significant "green" (Islamic fundamentalist) component, it would risk U.S. strategy in the region, intelligence security and even U.S. personnel.

EDMUND MCWILLIAMS
Falls Church 

Edmund McWilliams is a retired senior foreign service officer who served as political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta from 1996 to 1999.